SCHOOL OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF KINESIOLOGY & NUTRITION SCIENCES BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NUTRITION SCIENCES DIETETICS CONCENTRATION DIDACTIC PROGRAM IN NUTRITION AND DIETETICS 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 45026 Las Vegas, NV 89154-026 Phone: (702) 895-428 Fax: (702) 895-2616 Campus Location: BHS 19
I. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM The University and Community College System of Nevada Board of Regents approved the Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition Sciences in the College of Health Sciences at UNLV in June of 1999. The Nutrition Sciences program now resides within the School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS) and provides an appropriate environment for the support of a science-based program emphasizing medical nutrition therapy, reflective of a current trend in nutrition programs across the nation. As our nation assesses our current medical care, medical reimbursement and welfare reform programs, the time is right for emphasis to be placed on nutrition as prevention and management of chronic disease, employee productivity, and reduced medical expenses for acute and chronic disease. A nutrition degree program within SAHS affords a perfect opportunity to include medical nutrition therapy in the education of future health care providers and provide a nutrition degree program with a strong clinical perspective. The Nutrition Sciences program is housed within the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences. Nutrition Sciences currently offers: a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition Sciences, a Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPND), and a Dietetic Internship. At the present time, we are admitting students to only the Dietetics and Sports Nutrition concentrations as pre-nutrition majors. Students apply to the program on a competitive basis to become a Nutrition Sciences major for admission in fall of their junior year. Nutrition Sciences prepares students for the health care field with an evidence-based approach to nutrition and dietetics and medical nutrition therapy. Nutrition Sciences programs are student-focused with contact hours provided through lecture-based courses, laboratory courses, and field experiences supervised by Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists. Summer and part-time work, or volunteer experiences in the profession, are encouraged to help bolster a competitive application for the dietetic internship. Nutrition and dietetics professionals have a unique knowledge of the science and art of nutrition. The blend of scientific knowledge and social and cultural factors influencing what people eat enables Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists to assist individuals in health promotion, disease prevention, and disease management. II. PROGRAM MISSION The mission of the UNLV DPND is to provide program graduates with the skills and knowledge to be comfortable and competent in their dietetic internship and serve as professionals capable of providing excellent entry-level dietetic services in numerous community, food service, management, and clinical settings. The program will provide an evidence-based curriculum that is clinical and communication focused, provides for a variety of practicum experiences, and promotes life-long learning, problem solving, and the effectiveness of teamwork. 2
III. PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The four program goals and fifteen objectives reflect the program s mission. The outcome data measuring achievement of program objectives are available to students, prospective students, and the public upon request. Program Goal #1 - The program will prepare graduates for a dietetics career where they are able to use sound scientific knowledge and make evidence-based decisions in practice. Objectives 1. At least 80% of DPND graduates will pass the registration examination on the first try. 2. At least 80% of DPND graduates will rate that they were at least satisfied with the overall knowledge gained during the DPND.. At least 80% of DPND graduates will be employed (or have attempted employment) in a nutrition or dietetics-related field, enrolled in a dietetic internship program, or enrolled in graduate/professional school following graduation from our DPND program. 4. At least 80% of graduates will rate themselves as being prepared for their dietetic internship or their first dietetics or nutrition-related job 5. Over a 5-year period, at least 60% of DPND graduates will apply to supervised practice programs within 12 months of graduation. 6. Over a 5-year period, at least 80% of those applying to supervised practice programs will be accepted within 12 months of graduation. 7. At least 80% of the time employer/preceptor rankings of graduates entry level knowledge using evidence-based practice will be satisfactory or above. 8. At least 80% of graduates will report community involvement or professional leadership responsibilities within 5 years of graduation. Program Goal #2 - Recruit and retain a diverse population of students. Objectives 1. At least 80% of the students who begin their junior year in the program will graduate from the program. 2. At least 25% of the students will be from a minority ethnic or non-traditional age group (based on UNLV s student database).. 80% of DPND students who begin their junior year in the program will graduate from the program within 6 years (Full program length: 4 years x 1.5 = 6 years). 150% of the time for program completion. IV. ADMISSIONS POLICY Interested students must complete an advising interview with the School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS) Advising Center. Students wishing to earn a degree in Nutrition Sciences and become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist must first be admitted to UNLV as a premajor (NUTR-PRE). Students will apply to the Nutrition Sciences Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPND) at the end of the sophomore year for entry into the program
in Fall of junior year. The following courses must be completed and a grade minimum must be earned for admission consideration into the DPND: MATH 124 (grade of C or higher) BIOL 189/L (grade of C or higher) BIOL 22/L (grade of C or higher) BIOL 224/L (grade of C or higher) BIOL 251/L (grade of C or higher) CHEM 108 (grade of C or higher) NUTR 22 (grade of B or higher) NUTR 271 (grade of B or higher) NUTR 01 (grade of B or higher) A grade of C or higher is required for all other general education courses. An application for the program is required. This application process will be reviewed with you in NUTR 271. An entrance exam, with a minimum score of 75%, will be required as part of the application process. To be admitted to the BS Nutrition Sciences and/or DPND), an applicant who is a non-native English speaker must provide proof of English language proficiency. A non-native speaker is an individual whose primary language in the home was a language other than English (or a non-english language) or who received K-12 (or equivalent) education in schools where English was not the medium of instruction. Prospective students must take the TOEFL ibt (Internet) exam and earn a minimum score of 100 to be eligible for this program. No other exam will be accepted. The program has a cap (50 students) and this number is subject to change. Top ranked students, based on GPA and entrance exam score, will be selected for admission into the DPND. Once admitted into the DPND, students will be considered Nutrition Sciences majors and the designation will change from NUTR-PRE to NUTR. V. Transfer Credits Students who have completed DPND work at another ACEND accredited institution and are requesting admission into the UNLV program will be asked to send a request form for a letter of good standing to the Chair/Dean of the program from which they are transferring. The application process into the DPND is the same as specified above. Specific courses will be determined on an individual basis when the program contract is negotiated. Transfer credit for equivalent course work may be granted for admission as a pre-major (NUTR-PRE) in MATH, BIOL and CHEM. Course work is evaluated based on curriculum content, not course title or credit equivalency. If transferred into UNLV and accepted by the program, the earned grade in the course will count for the application into the DPND. NUTR courses must be taken at UNLV for DPND admission. 4
Students transferring from another institution into the DPND program will be handled on a case by case basis. Transfer students will first be admitted to UNLV as a pre-major in Nutrition Sciences (NUTR-PRE). Students must apply to the DPND program for admission once all required courses are successfully completed. To be considered for transfer after program acceptance, NUTR courses must come from a DPND accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Transfer courses will be evaluated based on course content not course title or description. Specific ACEND foundation knowledge requirements and learning outcomes must be equivalent in order to meet accreditation standards of education and therefore accepted for our DPND. Courses older that five years will not be considered. English, Mathematics and Chemistry courses may require placement examinations to determine course sequencing. SAT, ACT or department exams may apply- see catalog for details. VI. PROGRAM POLICIES Academic Policies Upon admission to the major, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 each semester and have no grades less than a C in all additional NUTR, FAB, and KIN courses. Students who fail to maintain a GPA of 2.75 will be placed on academic probation, removed from the DPND, and will be required to receive academic advising. Here the student will meet with an academic advisor and decide if they want to improve their GPA and re-apply for the DPND program or choose another major with different GPA expectations. Graduation and Accreditation Requirements A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for graduation with 62 credits earned at a four-year institution. Students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and have no grades less than a C in all additional FAB, KIN and NUTR courses. A 2.75 GPA and no grades less than a C in all additional FAB, KIN, and NUTR courses is required in order to fulfill Didactic Program in Nutrition & Dietetics (DPND) requirements. Students not meeting this requirement will not be eligible to apply for Dietetic Internships and therefore not eligible to become credentialed as a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. Completion of the DPND does not guarantee placement in an ACEND-approved Dietetic Internship. 2.75 is the minimum GPA to meet accreditation requirements, but may or may not be a competitive GPA for acceptance into Dietetic Internship programs. The Dietetic Internship, supervised practice program requires that students be placed at various hospitals, community, and clinical sites. Students must complete a criminal background check, drug screen, and provide proof of immunizations to be permitted to participate at these sites. Sites also have very strict dress and appearance code that students must abide by (i.e. piercings, tattoos, and clothing). 5
The UNLV School of Allied Health Sciences, Nutrition Sciences Program (DPND), cannot guarantee that affiliated hospitals, community, and clinical sites will allow the student to participate in patient/client care at these affiliate sites. Upon meeting the DPND requirements, students will receive a Verification Statement from the DPND Director. A copy will also be placed in the student s permanent file. Advising Students should meet with an academic advisor in the SAHS advising center each semester in order to plan coursework for the completion of the degree. While the academic advisors are there to guide the student, it is the student s responsibility to ensure that all requirements for graduation are satisfied. VII. PROGRAMS AND CONCENTRATIONS B.S. in Nutrition Sciences Students meeting the requirements established by the department will receive a B.S. in Nutrition Sciences. In order to become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN) students must: Complete the DPND requirements. Apply for, become accepted into, and complete an ACEND-Accredited Dietetic Internship. Pass the National Registration Examination for Dietitians. NOTE: Once the RDN credential is earned, one may apply for their Dietetics license in Nevada. No additional courses or credentials are required to be eligible for the license to practice. Didactic Program in Nutrition & Dietetics (DPND) The DPND was granted Full Accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition & Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (AND) in 2005. The contact information for ACEND is listed here. Address: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995; Phone: (12) 899-0040, extension 5400; E-mail: education@eatright.org; Web Site: http://www.eatright.org/acend. Concentrations Dietetics: This general program allows students to meet all DPND requirements. This concentration allows students to choose Nutrition Sciences elective courses. Sports Nutrition: This concentration allows students to take specialized courses in sports nutrition and exercise physiology. Students in this concentration will meet DPND requirements. 6
VIII. UNIVERSITY CORE REQUIREMENTS (6-9 CREDITS) See the UNLV General Education Core Worksheet or Undergraduate Catalog for more detail. Category Course Options Credits English Composition ENG 101 and ENG 102 6 English Literature ENG 21 or ENG 22 Mathematics MATH 124 or higher, but NOT MATH 12 US/NV Constitution Both: HIST 100 or PSC 101 4-6 US Only: HIST 101 NV Only: HIST 102, 217, or PSC 100 Multicultural May simultaneously fulfill a Fine Arts, Humanities, or Social Science requirement www.unlv.edu/committees/gec/multicultural.html International NUTR 01 satisfies this requirement Humanities See UNLV General Education Core Worksheet 6 Fine Arts See UNLV General Education Core Worksheet Social Science See UNLV General Education Core Worksheet 9 First Year Experience HSC 100- Issues in Health Sciences 2 NOTE: Credits from NUTR 01 are counted under required NUTR & FAB courses. IX. REQUIRED FOUNDATION COURSES (2 CREDITS) Course Number Course Title Credits KIN 00 Statistics for the Health Sciences BIOL 189/189L Fundamentals of Life Science 4 BIOL 22/22L Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Pre-req: BIOL 189/189L BIOL 224/224L Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 Pre-req: BIOL 189/189L, BIOL 22/22L BIOL 251/251L General Microbiology 4 Pre-req: BIOL 189/189L, CHEM 108 CHEM 108 Chemistry for the Health Sciences 4 Check the home department for pre-requisite changes 7
X. REQUIRED NUTR & FAB COURSES (48 CREDITS) Course Number Course Title Cr FAB 101 Food Service Sanitation I 1 FAB 159 Food Service Operations Fundamentals Pre-req: FAB 101 FAB 160 Hospitality Purchasing Pre-req: FAB 159 NUTR 26 Principles of Food Science Pre-req: FAB 101, FAB 159, CHEM 108, NUTR 22 NUTR 22 Principles of Nutrition Pre-req: MATH 124 or higher (not MATH 12); CHEM 108; BIOL 189/L; NUTR Major; Co-req: NUTR 271 NUTR 271 Introduction to Nutrition and Dietetics 1 Pre-req: MATH 124 or higher (not MATH 12); CHEM 108; BIOL 189/L; NUTR Major; Co-req: NUTR 22 NUTR 01 Nutrition, Health, and Ethnic Issues Pre-req: ENG 101 NUTR 11/L* NUTR 11/L* NUTR 70 NUTR 405 NUTR 426** NUTR 427** NUTR 429** NUTR 41** NUTR 450** NUTR 451* NUTR 470** * Taken Junior Year * *Taken senior year Courses MUST be taken together Nutrition Assessment Pre-req: NUTR 22, 271, 70, & MATH 124 or higher (Not 12) Co-Req: NUTR 11L Nutrition Assessment Lab Pre-req: NUTR 22, 271, 70, & MATH 124 or higher (Not 12) Co-Req: NUTR 11 Nutrition in the Lifecycle Pre-req: NUTR 22 & NUTR 271 Advanced Sports Nutrition Pre-req: BIOL 224/224L, NUTR 11/11L Medical Nutrition Therapy I Pre-req: NUTR 11/11L, BIOL 224/224L Medical Nutrition Therapy II Pre-req: NUTR 426; Co-req: NUTR 41, NUTR 450 Dietetics, Business, and Management Principles I Pre-req: FAB 160, FAB 61 or NUTR 26, NUTR 11/11L Seminar in Nutrition Pre-req: Senior Standing in Nutrition, NUTR 426 Co-req: NUTR 427, NUTR 450 Nutritional Pathophysiology Pre-req: Senior Standing in Nutrition, NUTR 426 Co-req: NUTR 427, NUTR 41 Nutrition and Metabolism I Pre-req: NUTR 11/L, BIOL 224/224L, CHEM 108 Community Nutrition Pre-req: NUTR 271, NUTR 70, NUTR 11 & NUTR 11L 8 1
XI. NUTRITION ELECTIVES (Choose 1 CREDITS) Course Number Course Title Credits NUTR 15* Field Experience in Nutrition 1- Pre-req: NUTR 22, NUTR 271 Permission of instructor required Repeatable up to 6 credits NUTR 407 Complementary and Integrative MNT Pre-req: NUTR 11/11L NUTR 408 Nutrition, Food and Policy Pre-req: NUTR 22, NUTR 70 NUTR 40 Dietetics, Business, and Management Principles II Pre-req: NUTR 429 NUTR 452 Nutrition and Metabolism II Pre-req: NUTR 426, NUTR 451 NUTR 466 Nutritional Anthropology Pre-req: NUTR 22 NUTR 475* Undergraduate Research in Nutrition 1- Permission of instructor required Repeatable up to 6 credits Pre-req: NUTR 11/11L NUTR 490* Special Topics in Nutrition 1- Permission of instructor required Repeatable up to 6 credits Pre-req: NUTR 11/11L NUTR 491* Independent Study in Clinical Nutrition 1- Permission of instructor required Repeatable up to 9 credits Pre-req: NUTR 11/11L NUTR 495* Practicum in Nutrition Education 1- Permission of instructor required Repeatable up to 6 credits Pre-req: NUTR 11/11L KIN 461 Physical Activity in Aging KIN 462 Adult Development in Aging KIN 491 Exercise Physiology Pre-req: BIOL 224/L 4 * MUST have consent of instructor prior to enrollment; Application required. Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 9
Freshman (Year 1)- Fall Term NUTRITION SCIENCES- DIETETICS CONCENTRATION SUGGESTED COURSE OF STUDY Freshman (Year 1)- Spring Term Course Credits Course Credits Social Science Social Science CHEM 108* 4 BIOL 251/L* 4 BIOL 189/189L* 4 ENG 102 ENG 101 MATH 124* HSC 100 2 US/NV Constitution 4 TOTAL 16 TOTAL 17 Sophomore (Year 2)- Fall Term Sophomore (Year 2)- Spring Term Course Credits Course Credits FAB 101 1 Humanities NUTR 22* NUTR 01* NUTR 271* 1 Social Science Humanities BIOL 224/224L* 4 ENG 21 OR 22 Fine Arts BIOL 22/22L* 4 TOTAL 15 TOTAL 16 Junior (Year )- Fall Term Junior (Year )- Spring Term Course Credits Course Credits KIN 00 FAB 160 FAB 159 NUTR 11/11L 4 NUTR Elective NUTR 26 NUTR 70 NUTR Elective NUTR 451 or other TOTAL 15 TOTAL 1 Senior (Year 4)- Fall Term Senior (Year 4)- Spring Term Course Credits Course Credits NUTR 426 NUTR 427 NUTR 429 NUTR 41 NUTR 405 NUTR 450 NUTR Elective NUTR 470 NUTR 451 or NUTR Elective NUTR Elective 1 TOTAL 15 TOTAL 1 *Courses are required for application into the DPND. NOTE: An additional course may be necessary if you do not fulfill the Multicultural requirement simultaneously with another course. Course load may be reduced by taking courses in the summer. 10